RAD-140 health warning
RAD-140, also known as testolone or radarine, is a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM) that is gaining notoriety.
RAD-140 has been detected in athletes internationally and recently in Australia.
Like other SARMs, RAD-140 is included in the Prohibited List as a banned substance for all athletes. It is also covered by the Australian Poisons Standard and accessing it without authority is illegal.
SARMs are a group of performance and image enhancing drugs that advertise themselves as muscle-building supplements but are actually experimental substances in the developmental process for a variety of androgen-related treatments. These include muscle-wasting diseases, cancer treatment and male contraception.
There is limited research on how effective SARMs are for producing muscle-building effects in humans. Additionally, SARMs have yet to be approved for human use in any capacity and there is limited information on the side-effects of these drugs.
There have been multiple case studies of liver failure in people using RAD-140, while other SARMs have been associated with impacts on vision. Additionally, there is no standardisation on the dosages required and the products themselves have come under scrutiny in multiple studies.
Both the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have issued warnings about the health effects of SARMs.
For more information on SARMs, visit the Therapeutic Goods Administration website.